What's the stupidest thing you've done fishing, period?

[River_eye]

Further to that tournament fishing post, what's the stupidest thing you've done while out fishing for fun?

I have a couple.

1) Put my expensive rod down while jigging in heavy current without reeling up to net one of my guests fish. Looked back just as the jig snagged the bottom and the rod was pulled overboard. I dove as fast as I could over the side (keeping my feet in the boat) and grabbed it about a foot under the surface of the water.

2) Guests rod was bent over with a small pike beside the boat at the surface. I went to grab it without telling him to ease back on the rod. The fish jumped, spitting the hook, it flew at a high speed deep into the tip of my index finger. It had a barb, so I had to get it frozen to get it removed.

[Dutchman]

Many years ago I set out to go fishing with an old Johnson 4hp motor and a 12' SeaKing boat. I had just bought this boat and I felt like a King, ready to brave any waters, filled with confidence that my "new" rig could handle any waters. It was prime walleye time on Big Stone Lake and I was going to get myself a hog. Well I ventured way to far in that little craft and got caught in a big Northwestern blow in Big Stone. (for those that don't know Big Stone it can be extremely ugly with strong N/W winds) I thought I was big stuff and had caught a limit of 4-6lb eyes by Manhatten island. When the wind came up I attempted to get back to my dads cabin at Schmidts Landing but the wind was so strong and the waves so fast my 4hp couldn't make any headway. I kept trying and kept bailing but I just couldn't get any where. Realizing that I wouldn't make it I decided to turn back into the bay and when I did the wave nearly capsized the boat. Now I was in real trouble. Then the 4hp johnson ran out of gas(this was when the tank was attached to the motor, maybe held a 1/2 gal at best) I'm bailing like a banshee and the waves are poring over the transom like crazy. I'm really starting to get freaked out now but I notice a guy in the bay hollering at me and I take my only paddle and start paddling towards this guy standing on the dock. We're both yelling like crazy and I finally get to the dock, by now the waves are pouring over the dock and my new prize boat is almost sunk and he plucks me out of my boat like a feather and stands me up on the dock. (I'm all of 15 and weigh about 140lbs soaking wet) It's then that I ralize who the guy was, it was my uncle, who saw me go out and saw the weather come in and knew I would be in deep S---t. I'll never forget his face just smiling then bursting into laughter when he saw I was OK. My dad was out in this whole thing in his boat trying to find me. I'll never forget how my overconfidence darn near got the best of me and how others risked their lives to find me, just because I was "STUPID". That was 30 years ago and I learned a huge lesson that day. So there you have it. the stupidist thing I've ever done fishing......


" Fishing is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope "

[TK_551]

About 8 years ago, a friend and I were fishing the day after July 4th. It was extremely hot out and although it felt nice, I felt really stupid. We motored into an extremely weedy area and the prop got tangled in a clump of weeds. He trimmed the motor up and I leaned up against it as I tried to pull of the weeds from the prop. I was holding on to the motor with one hand and trying to pull off the weeds with the other, while I was hanging halfway over the transom. At some point, the motor gave out and proceeded to catapult me off the back of the boat. As I said, it felt nice being so hot out, however, I felt pretty dumb and I still have not lived that one down.

Tom
#551

[Cangl]

Hows this sound?
I didn't come here to fish that way, there....I make it a point of not being guilty of that kind of ignorance anymore. ;)

[Joe]

Not me but I saw a couple of guys out trolling one day, he was useing his big motor for power. The driver got up out of his chair for a break when he got a fish on with the rod he had mounted by his chair. When he went to grab his rod out of the rod holder he accidently hit the throtle for the big motor, sending his buddy right out the back of the boat.

[REW]

Many years ago on opening day of fishing a buddy and I took my 5 hp motor to the local lake, rented a boat and proceeded to troll for a few hours. We had caught a few fish, when the boat ran out of gas. This was a motor, with the tank on top of the motor. I filled the tank, and of course, some of the gas ran over the edge - wanted to insure that it was completely full. Put the gas can down, and put the lid on the tank.

Remember, we have been trolling for several hours.
I pulled the cord once, the engine back fired, and it caught on fire.
Of course, at that time there was no fire extinguisher on the boat.

so, after unsuccessfully trying to splash some water on the increasing fire, I reached down, and undid the motor from the transom and ducked it in the water.

I pulled it up, and it started burning again. I ducked it again for another few seconds, and the fire was out.

I put the motor back on the boat - pulled the cord and the engine started burning again. This time, I had put the bolts fairly tight and couldn't get them loose. By this time the motor is heating up and beginning to vent flaming gas out the tank. I knew that we had just a few seconds, until the gas tank would explode.

I tried one more time - burning the hair on my arm, but finally got the engine loose from the boat. I dunked the motor in the water and left it there for about 3 minutes.

I then took the motor put it back on the boat, and fished without the use of the motor for the next hour.

Started the motor, and finished the day.

Remember -- always carry a fire extinguisher.

It only took a month to get the hair back on my arm.

Take care
REW

[KP]

I'd love to share a story with everyone but there's too many. Seems like stupidity and fishing go hand in hand with me. You choose:

Trapped in a stump field on a Texas lake at 2:00am.

A buddy, a Strohs 30 Pack, and me versus Lake Millacs.

More throttle not only gets you on the trailer but embedded in it.

The Lake Superior story.

No one to join me ice fishing? I'll invite the dumbest guy I know!

So many holes in the ice...one cell phone.

Why you shouldn't refill your Coleman Lantern in the dark.

"I know this river like the back of my hand"

Cotter Pin?

And that's only a few story examples.

[Chad]

We were tied up pitching jigs into the trees. My partner and I both had jigs broke off in a bush. Before we left I pulled us over the the bush and leaned over to grab my jig. My partner says get mine too. So, I leaned over a little more. It had been raining and my partner has a glass boat. I ended up sliding my rear too far over the edge and ended up in the drink.

[Dummy]

Drove 185 miles to the Missouri River to realize I forgot my tackle bag in the garage!!

[lm]

It would be the time my father-in-law thought it would be fun to bring the Coleman camp stove in the boat to cook brats. Well, it caught fire and he tried to hold it under water but it was actually burning under water. Before we knew it, there was a ring of burning water all around us. He threw the stove in and couldn't get the motor started. H e actually lost his cool and proceeded to jump in. We just sat in the boat, watched the flames go out while he was floating nearby yelling some profanity to whoever would hear.

[stewart]

On a really wet day the shorelunch fire would not start at all, just smolder. I decided a bit of flammable fluid would dry it out, so I take the whole boat gas tank to splash some on, and even though it was just a smoldering fire it traveled like lightning up into the tank. I had a mitt on and just covered the hole to smother it real fast, but it scared the #### out of me. I couldn't believe I'd done something sooo stupid.

[BlasterMaster243]

i jumped in about 14ft of water after my fish that were already on a stringer and there was 3 23inch fish on it and i did get them but it was only 7:30 in the mornin of the first day and i was soaked and coold all day later



Dan

[Schnauzer]

Last year, I took my new boat out with my wife (2nd time it had been on the water) on Minnetonka. I was very nervous and anal about breaking stuff and doing stupid stuff. I also didn’t want to look like a newbie at the boat launch.

It was VERY windy – probably the windiest day of the entire spring. “Boat fever” told me to head out anyway. I got it launched OK but my wife insisted I park the trailer so I had to beach the boat while I parked it. I clipped a mooring rope to the rear cleat and had my wife hold it so the back end wouldn’t blow into the shallows. I returned, backed away from the beach, and started to slowly work the boat out to deeper water against the wind.

All of a sudden my trusty HPDI quit! It started right up a second time but quit again as soon as a I put it in gear. I repeated the process with the same results about 5 times until the shoreline was getting VERY close as that heavy wind pushed us to shore. I started to panic. I dropped the kicker and luckily it started right away (a rarity without squeezing the gas bulb in cold weather). I motored farther out and repeated the failed starting attempts with the big motor with no luck – a few fellas on shore had taken notice by now so that added to the pressure and frustration. Then, it popped into my head… what happened to that mooring rope? You guessed it – it was wrapped firmly around the prop. I pulled it off and my motor hasn’t “failed” since. I’m sure it made for one of those “idiot at the boat launch” stories for the guys watching me. Duh.

Well, if my wife could back a trailer it never would have happened so it is her fault, right? :-)

[W1]

Always remember when the anchor is down,pull it up..100 yards. in a weedy lake really adds some weight.

[River_eye]

I've done one of those too. Although I wasn't so lucky to put it out. dropped the can (10 L) and had a mighty hot fire right in the middle of the shorelunch spot. Too add insult to injury, after this fire was done, the cooking fire still wasn't started.

[Ang]

How come there are no stories about forgetting to put the drain plug in. I do this one every other year even after being reminded.

[manitobawalleye]

lm
i jumped in to a burning ring of fire........
that's great, laughed my head off
sort of like a pat mcmanus story.....
how did you not fall out laughing...
thanks for sharing...

[WAeyes]

Im...you are the man!

I can't stop laughing...ring of fire???...jumping in??? I'm dieing here just trying to picture this in my head. LOL

[BlackSilver]

Why hasn't somebody told about the blonde on the Bayliner with the trailer still under it?

SET the hook!!!

Hans/MN

[eyeeeeeeee]

one time at band camp i you know? smelled like fish---

[justatip]

prior to moving to the northwoods in '75, I hunkered down to my local Missouri WalMart and bought a new "muskie" reel that I knew I would use. Still have the reel, an push-button style Pfleuger Supreme.
Paid about $30 for it in '75. Don't use it much, and look at it often. If only I had bought $30 of WalMart stock and kept it. Now I would be retired.

page 2....spooled new Pfleuger with new line when I arrived up Nort, and went to a rustic boat landing in a secluded bay. Of course I took a friend who didn't fish. Thought I might catch a muskie from shore.

Put on a hefty surface plug and let her rip....only to learn that when a lure hits an overhead tree branch, you'll get the biggest backlash the world has ever seen. Friend, of course, nearly died laughing. So we went to another place, a small stream. Pulled out my spin rig and a small twister. Made a cast or two.

Guy came down to where we were fishing. Asked, "What you boys doing?"
I said, "Fishing for anything that bites. We've had a slow day." He responded, "Well, you should know this trout stream closed last month and fishing here now is illegal. But since you're obviously tourists, I won't issue a ticket today." Nice Warden, but worst day fishing, period.

[eek]

I have a couple,

Went fishing with a couple of buddies back in the 70's (we were kids) and had another buddy show up with his dads surf rod. He said he was going to cast it clear across the river. He tried and tried but never even came close. Being the biggest kid there I told him to let me try it. Took a couple of tries, and decided he needed more weight on it, tied on 3 ounces, pulled the line out from under my finger too soon, went way too wide and caught the passing freight train on the bridge. When the line ran out the reel broke and it took off the bottom 3 guides of that rod, before the line broke. His dad was really good about it, took payments for 3 months, proceeds from my paper route...

5 years ago, took a vacation to Reelfoot lake in Tennessee, was Flippin toward an island when rod tip hit the biggest hornets nest I have ever seen anywhere. Numerous hornets errupted and I forgot the trolling motor was down as I fired up the outboard, hit reverse and spun around, then WOT, in the opposite direction. Trolling motor made a sheet of water fly way up into the air and of course, fell back into the boat soaking both wifey and I. Never got stung but would not care to go back there.

eek

[BGunn]

EEK,
You reminded me of one of my funnies;
Back in about '62 I took some of my hard earned cash, and went out and bought a new spinning rod and reel.
Had to take it over to my best buddy's house and show him my new prize possesion. We spooled up the line, and tied on a 3/4 ounce sinker to try out the casting. Standing in his driveway, I made the first cast, intending it to land about on the sidewalk.
Well it casted a little better than the old baitcaster I was use to, and I overshot my target by quite a bit, problem was, a car was comming. I swished that sinker right between the rear bumper, and the car body! (to you young guys, this was back when you could bump something with your bumper, and not cause $2500.00 damage to your car!)
Well, a second after my original horror, the fight was on! You know how it is, when your fishing with 6# test for walleyes, and you hook a 50" muskie, and he dosen't even know he's hooked? Picture him swimming at 45 mph and weighing in about 2000#!
I had to run to the street, 'cause the line hit the tree in the front yard. I thought I was getting the best of him, cause he was slowing down, but he was just slowing for the curve ahead.
Well, he spooled me, and lucky me, the line broke at the spool knot.
My buddy and I laughed for ten minutes. What a way to break in the drag on a new reel!!

[Tom P]

I was pulling my old Sylvan Pro Select with an Audi 4000 Quattro ( 4 wheel drive). The Audi 4 wheel system at that time was the truest 4 wheel system out there. When you put in 4 wheel all wheels were locked, no limited slip at all. You had a heck of a time turning corner with it on unless you were on snow. I had a buddy of mine engage it to pull out the trailer at the lift while I slide the boat off the trailer. He pulled straight out and parked it with no turning. At the end of the day . I dropped him off to get the car to get the boat out. The lauch was very busy. I was way out there waiting in line to load. I was not paying to much attention to the launch. About 15 minutes later I was not moving up in line so I looked what was going on. There was my freind going back and forth trying to get the car turned with about 6-7 people waiting for this door knob to turn his car around. They had no clue why he could not turn. He had a guy come up to the car and tell him to quit playing around , you have 6 guy waiting to get their boats out! I motored up to find out what's going on. He told me I can't turn your F#@### car and I have all these guys all over me thinking I clowning around. I must add that this landing was setup so no one could get by him , so they were stuck too. I told my buddy to unlock the 4 wheel then everything went well. I was on the floor crying when he yelled at me about how he could not turn my ##@@@car , I knew what had happened , and could only imagine how dumb he felt holding up 6-7 people because he could not turn a car.

[Chad]

Sold my boat!

[ELMO]

Left the lake TOO EARLY!! and stared HOME!

[Canoehead]

Went on a back lake fishing trip in Canada three years ago with a party of 5 boats. My dad, uncle, and I were the first boat onto the lake and proceeded to find a nice little island to camp on and set up so we could hit the links. We unloaded the boat and spent the next twenty minutes getting the work out of the way, only to turn around and see our 14' about about 50 yards out and moving away from the island (schizer!) We all looked at each other like we were about to be completely embarrassed, expecting the other boats to show up. My dad thought he could save face and decided to strip down to his birthday suit, with only his black sneakers on, and swim for the boat. As soon as he was in the water and up to his gonads (it was the middle of Sept. and the water temp was cold), the other boats appeared on the lake to see their first "Sasquatch" as my dad ran for cover - it was definitly the highlight and lowlight of my fishing trips!

[River_eye]

Forgeting the plug, that's a bad one. Have done it quite a few times. Even threw it in the lake without thinking while draining the boat at full speed.

[lm]

It is fun to remember those times to forget. I am glad you thought jumping into a burning ring of fire was good. It brings to light the fact that my father-in-law anf fire do not mix. This wasn't fishing but you'll get the point on this fellow... running through the woods with the back of his shirt on fire after he tried to fill the chainsaw with gas while still running... go figure!!!

[0ld starcrafter]

This stunt has to rank right up there. Three friends and I decided to take a fishing trip to the Niagara river. After launching at Lewston we proceeded up river past the power plant, heading for what appeared to be some white water, after some hesitation I sped up and hit the white water at full speed. Well god was with us this day, the boat tried doing a wheelstand, throwing us all to the back of the boat,luckly I was able to get back to the steering wheel and get us headed back out of the white water. What we later found out was that this was the infamous devils hole, which has claimed many boats. We all learned a valuable lesson that day.

[manitobawalleye]

lm
it must be father-in-law disease as i just let my wife read your 2 posts and she told me about her father with the gas can in the pasture.... he started the manure pile on fire and was sauntering away unknowingly dribbling gas as he went... about a 50' from the fire he turned to admire his work just as his boot caught fire....
thank god we have 0 kids so i should be safe from this little beknownst malady.....

[eek]

I'll just bet that one wouldn't fit in the net either, and at least you had light enough line on to break off without screwing up anything on that new combo. If I live to be a hundred, I'll never forget that feeling, knowing that disaster was comming and not being able to stop it. It really wouldn't have been quite so bad if that would have been my rod and reel, but to screw up somebody elses expensive stuff just to show off, that was stupid.

Good fishing! eek

[Firetiger]

Last summer I was fishing with my Uncle up north. we saw a white plastic leach container floating from a good distance away. we slowy made are way towards it to see what is was. After trolling are way over to it, my uncle said something like "grab that and see what it is". so I did. I opened up the led and it was a bunch of dead leaches. My uncle then said throw it in the trash spot. I was just day dreaming and all i heard was throw it in. I was so busy thinkin og something else I threw it right back in to the lake. I did not relize till about 300yds away that I did that. I know its nothin major but it was to me. I was mad at my self for dazzing out like I did and tossin that rottet leach container right back in to the lake.

[Rick-Wy.]

This post is VERY similiar to REW's. (from a fire standpoint)

The saga begins years (25 actually) ago while living in Kansas City. Don't recall the lakes name but just east of KC in Missouri.

Just bought my first boat. 12 foot aluminum with a old 10 hp. Mercury (I think) motor. Don't remember the year but seems like it was a 50's vintage. I recall it was green with the tank on top and was alway's in gear when you started it. No reverse or neutral!

Well I took it out for my first voyage very soon after ice out. Took my girl friend at the time with me. Well we put her in and tied it up to the dock. Pulled it once and started just fine, so I gave my friend the okay to turn loose of the dock rope.

Well that was the last time it started. I pulled and pulled while we drifted out from shore (50-60 yards) and next thing I know the motor is on fire. All of that pulling and a full gas tank - the gas was leaking out the vent hole over the spark plug. BINGO, MOTOR A FIRE.

Well panic set in and I could not get the fire (yes, no fire extinguisher)out. I also had 5 gallons of gas in a spare tank next to me. I guess I thought I was going to be out for a long, long time! Anyway, I trying to get it out and the next thing I know my girl friend is shoving my head in the water - yes, my hair caught on fire!

Well after the splash in the face, panic really set in. Tried to put it out with my coat. You guessed it, nylon - quite a melt down!

Now, I'm sure this could blow and the captain (yours truly) says abandon ship. We both jump in without our life jackets. Very, very, stupid but that is sure what I did. Well the water was very cold and we were about 50-60 yards from shore.

My friend was supposedly a good swimmer. I'm probably at best a good dog paddler. Well she immediately started to panic and hyperventilate. (or something to that effect).

Now I was pretty pumped up at this time and grabbed her by the neck and dog paddled to shore. By that time people were there on shore and rescued my girl friend. I can still remember like it was yesterday watching the boat flames jump off that motor and still standing thigh deep in the cold water. Just watching in amazement.

A boat came along - with a fire extinguisher and put it out. Amazing no real damage other than my ego and a slightly burned rod.

I can still smell my hair as we drove back into KC. Rita (girlfriend) never did back into that boat.

The next day I bought a Sears 9.9 HP gamefisher! And one of those red things.

Well the saga continues... about a year after that I was coming back from western Kansas fishing with my Dad for a weekend. Late Sunday night about 10:00 on the interstate in the middle of Topeka Kansas one of the springs breaks on this old trailer and drops the boat, motor and trailer on the pavement at 75 mph.

My brother who lives in Topeka came by with a flat bed that night and we put the "mess" on the trailer and hauled it to his house.

Later that week, I visted a welding shop and we patched the skid holes on the boat and I visited Sears (again) to purchase a new trailer!

In closing that night after the trailer mishap and getting back to KC in the middle of the night....I found that my girlfriend had moved out and dumped me. I really did like her at the time!

However, the fishing was GREAT that weekend with my Dad. Probably some of the best walleye fishing I have ever had trolling thin fins.

Sold that setup a could of years after that. Sure missed the memories
that took place even though most of them were horrific.

Rick

[BGunn]

LOL
Now that one made me laugh!
Like the time I thought it would be easier to put the worm on a brand new, never been in the water, Mepps spinner, then tie it to the line.
WOOPS, forgot to tie it on before I thru it in the water.

[SnellTier]

Tried to get my main motor started on LOW while in high wind and drifting towards rocks. Would crank ... would not start.

Put trolling motor back down and worked away from the rocks.Tried big motor again ... cranked but did not start. Repeated this 3 or 4 times.

Took the cover off the motor. Took the plugs out VERY CAREFULLY ... hanging onto them (and the boat too) for dear life as the boat was bouncing up and down in the waves. Motor was NOT flooded ... plugs were NOT fouled ... plenty of spark ... plenty of fuel. Put the plugs back in ... what the heck is going on??????

Now panic was starting to set in. Big wind. LOW. No other boats in sight. Tried radio ... no responses. Tried two flares ... no other boats responded. I thought and thought and thought ... while fighting the wind with my trolling motor.

Was struck by an incoming thought ... with a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach ... I looked at the kill switch. YUP ... it was OFF!! Turned it to ON ... motor cranked and started right away.

Shoot!!! RATS!!! IDIOT!!! GRRRR!!!

In my 1997 Alumacraft Magnum 165 CS when one lifts the rod locker lid all the way, it hits the kill switch and pushes it to "OFF". The above story is how I discovered this "design feature". I eventually cut a piece of closed cell foam and double-stick taped it below the kill switch so the rod box lid travel is limited and the top can no longer hit the kill switch.

Yes, I did share this story back at fishing camp that evening. The Hotspots people ... who were leading the trip I was on (my first outing with my new boat) ... made me feel a lot better when several of them admitted they had done the same thing themselves. They said "The good thing is you will never do that again" ... and they were right. Now it is the first thing I check if the engine does not catch on the first or second crank.

But, I still feel pretty dumb 5 years later.

[TangledAngler]

Ahhh . . . there are many. This is one of my most embarassing though. My brother and I are launching the boat for a walleye tourney on Pymy. We can't get the 9.9 to turn over at all. We try everything. As the frustration mounted, we started to feel our day slipping away. We had to pull the boat out and wait two hours for the shop to open so they could take a look at it. The guy took one look at it and said "you know, that kill switch is a real killer". Wanna talk about embarassment. Never even crossed our minds. We were so obsessed with fishing that we forgot our good ole common sense. That will never happen again. At least is was a cheap mistake.